Chapter 2

As my soul slipped free from my crystallized body, a strange sensation overtook me—a gentle pull, as though invisible threads were guiding me downward. I felt no fear, only a curious warmth, like being cradled in a vast, serene current.

I let myself descend, surrendering to whatever force was leading me. At first, I thought it was pleasant—almost comforting. But soon, the pull became insistent, invasive, like fingers clawing at my mind.

That's when I felt it.

A pulse. Faint at first, then growing stronger. My thoughts clouded, and the warm current transformed into a sickly glow, enveloping me in its grasp. Mind control magic?

I struggled to open my eyes, pushing against the trance. When I finally managed, the sight before me froze my soul in place.

A massive creature loomed ahead, its form impossible to define. It was blacker than shadow, darker than death itself, and its surface rippled like liquid obsidian. Souls clung to it, their faint outlines writhing in agony as the creature devoured them.

It was consuming them—every soul that appeared in this abyssal expanse was drawn into its being, becoming part of its endless, monstrous form.

I glanced down at my hands. They were faint, translucent, shimmering faintly with a silvery light. My fingers were touching the creature. Yet, unlike the others, it couldn't devour me.

My pulled my hand back but just as I did that my mind became hazy and I passed out. When I regained consciousness, my hand was again touching the creature.

I yanked my hand back. The trance tried to reclaim me, pulling me toward the beast, but every time my hand made contact, the haze lifted, and I regained my senses.

'Why can't it consume me?'

Forcing myself to stay focused, I stepped back and took in the rest of my surroundings. Above me stretched a vast, empty sky—a swirling mix of muted grays and pale blues, devoid of light yet somehow glowing faintly. Below, an endless lake mirrored the horizon, rippling unnaturally despite the still air.

The abyss was alive, pulsing with an energy that seeped into my very soul. And in every direction, creatures like the one before me towered like monoliths, consuming the endless stream of souls cascading from the sky.

I turned my gaze downward, wary of looking at the creature again. Its presence made my head spin, and even a brief glance filled me with a strange, dangerous bliss.

"This place… Is this the true afterlife?" I muttered, my voice echoing faintly.

Then, I saw it. Among the writhing souls being consumed, I recognized one.

The Demon Lord.

His soul, fractured and weak, struggled against the pull of the creature, but it was futile. Within moments, it vanished, swallowed whole.

"So, even he wasn't spared," I murmured. "What are these things? Are they... above me?"

I bowed instinctively, lowering my gaze to the water beneath my feet. My reflection stared back at me, faint and hazy, like a memory trying to hold onto form. I saw myself bow, and as my hand brushed the water, I suddenly felt the trance lift.

Respect?

"Is that why they can't consume me?" I whispered. "Am I… exempt because I bow to them?"

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "I'm Death, yet here I am, showing deference to something that consumes souls."

I began walking, careful to keep my gaze low. The creatures dotted the horizon like endless black towers, and their presence pressed down on me, making every step feel heavier.

---

Discovery

Time seemed meaningless in this abyss. I wandered for what felt like hours—or perhaps days. The stillness was deafening, the silence pressing against my thoughts like an iron grip.

Finally, I stopped. Beneath me, the water rippled unnaturally, as though it were alive. I crouched down, staring at the surface, and allowed myself to sink into its cold embrace.

The moment my form touched the water, I didn't fall through. Instead, I floated, the surface cradling me as though recognizing me.

I lay there, staring up at the swirling sky. My mind churned with questions.

"Is this my punishment? To wander this abyss endlessly? No. I'm not a mortal soul. I'm…"

I clenched my fists, anger bubbling up.

"I am Death!" I shouted, my voice reverberating through the void. The sound echoed endlessly, as though the abyss itself was mocking me.

Then, a voice rang out, mechanical and cold, cutting through the stillness.

"Classification of unknown entity form complete. New Entity form detected: God."

I sat up abruptly, scanning the horizon. "Who said that? Answer me!"

The voice didn't respond.

I stood, summoning my will. "I don't have time for riddles. If I'm a god, then I'll act like one. This place won't trap me forever."

I extended my hands, channeling my magic. To my surprise, the air around me shifted, bending to my will. Slowly, I lifted off the water, ascending into the sky.

---

The Decision

Hovering above the abyss, I turned my gaze toward the creature from before. Its power no longer terrified me, though its presence still made my head spin.

"So… these creatures are nothing more than lesser gods," I muttered. "They may govern souls, but they don't rule me."

I clenched my fists. "Now… how do I return home?"

I closed my eyes, focusing on the world I had left behind. The faces of my fellow gods flashed in my mind—the God of Creation, Time, Fate. The moment of my crystallization, their tears, their sorrow.

"I'm not done yet," I whispered. "My role isn't over."

As my magic surged, I felt a pull—a faint, distant thread connecting me to the mortal realm.

Without hesitation, I reached for it.